Automatic weighing-machine



No. le. Patented nec. 27, |393. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

Application filed Mar. 5, 1898.)

Witnesses: Inf/67u07@ @MJM we Noam frans co. pHoro-umn, vwmmomn. c

No. 6I6,860. Patented Dec. 27, |898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE. (Application vled Har. 5, 1898.)

(No Mulhal.)A 6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

Pig. ,2.

Witnesses: Inventor:

me wams versus co. wommwp. wAsHwamN, p c.

No. 616,860. Patented Dec. 27, |898.

- F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application led Mar. 5, 1898.)

(No Model.) 6 Sheets--$heet 3.

Nu. 6|6,860. Patened Dec. 27, |898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC wElaHlNG MACHINE.

(Application filed Max. 5, 189B.) f (No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

Witnesses: l Inventor:

THE Nonms PETERS co. Pl-roo-wmwAsmNuToN. u. i:`

No. 6|6,860. Patented Dec. 27, |898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application filed Mal'. 5, 1898.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(No Modal.)

[nwe/lato?" Witnesses Tn: norms Firms co vHuTo mno wswmm'oN, n. c

No. 6|6,860. Patented Dec. 27, |898. F. H. RICHARDS.

AUTDMATIC WEIGHING MACHINE.

(Application tiled Mar. 5, 1898A (No Model.) 6 Sheets--Sheet 6.

Fig. 6v.

[n1/en vor:

p4: nofws PETERS cn.. moouwu. WASHINGTON, n, c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC WEIGHING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,860, dated December 2'?, 1898.

Application filed March 5, 1898.

To ctZZ whom t nto/,y concern:

Be itknown that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Weighing-Maehinesf which the following is a speciiieation.

This invention relates to weighing machinos; and it has for its main object the provision of an improved machine adapted for weighing automatically predetermined quantities of granular or similar material.

One of the main features of this invention is the provision, in a machine of this character, of improved stream-controlling mechanism for governing the supply of material to the load-receiver, one of the essential features of which mechanism is the employment of a pair of separatelyoperative superposed stream-controllers or valves, one of which governs the supply of the main stream7 while the other controls the flow of the drip-stream and may receive its supply of material from a suitable opening or spout leading from the main-stream controller. In connection with these valves I may employ a guard that will prevent scattering` of material of the main stream, while permitting the latter to fiow unchecked, this guard being shiftable into position to control the volume of the drip-stream when the main stream is cut off.

rlhe two stream-controllers or valves which I prefer to employ will be in the nature of force-feeders, preferably force-feeding panvalves, supported below the su pply-spout and one normally sustaining the column of material delivered from the lower end of such spout, both of these valves or feeders being oscillatory advantageously about an axis outside of the flow-stream and remote from the mouth of the supply-hopper. In connection with these two force-feeders I may make use of driving mechanism for operating the feeders successively, the feeder which supplies the drip-stream preferably having a somewhat shorter range of movement than that which feeds the main stream of material. Suitable differential driving mechanism may be employed for this purpose and controlled by the movements of i'lieweighing mechanism of the machine.

Other features of this invention relate to the construction of the several parts of the weighing-mechanism and to the manner in which these coact with the stream controlling devices and with the driving mechanism for the feeders, and all of these features will be described fully in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings accompanying and forining` part of this specification, Figure l is a front elevation of an automatic weighing-inachine embodying my present improvements, portions of the framework being broken away to illustrate the construction clearly. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine as seen from the left in Fig. l, the parts being in positions for delivering a full stream to the loadreceiver. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the parts in the drip position. Fig. 4i is a similar view illustrating the positions of the different devices at the moment of the cut off of the iiow of material. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the positions of the parts on the discharge of a load. Fig. 6 is a plan of the machine. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the organization of the principal parts of the differential driving mechanism. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating an improved pivotbearing for the machine, and Fig. 9 is an end view of said pivot-bearing detached.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Any suitable framework may be employed for supporting the several operative parts of my improved weighing-machine. That illustrated herein comprises as its essential elements a pair of side frames 2 and 2', connected at their lower ends by a discharge-hopper Il and at their upper ends by a top beam 5, supporting in the usual manner the supplyhopper Il.

The stream-controlling means illustrated herein is, as before stated, of improved construction and embodies a pair of valves, suoli as 70 and '72, the former of which constitutes the main valve and controls the main stream supplied to the load-receiver, while the latter is the usual drip-valve and is intended to feed to said load-receiver the drip-stream for completing the load in the bucket. These two valves are preferably superposed and may be pan-valves, substantially of the usual typo,

supported beneath the discharge -mouth of the hopper ll and hung from arms, such as G and G', projecting from the hopper Il. (See Figs. l and 0.) These valves are therefore supported to swing about axes remote from their working faces and will have a substantially horizontal movelnent back and forth under the discharge end of the hopper.

The main hopper Il of course supplies material to the main valve 70, and the dripvalve 72 may be supplied in any suitable manner, but preferably from the main valve 70, which in this case has an opening in the bottom thereof, through which a portion of thc material fed thereto will be delivered t the drip-valve to form the drip-stream. The spout of the main valve projects into the dripvalve from the bot-tom of the main valve and is indicated herein by TO. In connection with these two valves l may make use of a guard for preventing scattering of the material of the main stream, and this guard may also serve as a means for controlling positively the volume of the drip-stream delivered during the last stages of the loading operation. This guard, which is designated herein by g, may be in the form of a plate, such as 60, secured to a shaft 6l, journaled in bearings in the ends of a pair of brackets projecting rearwardly from the cross-beam 5. (See Fig. 6.) ln order to carry the guard-plate into position to control the drip-stream, the guard is preferably connterweighted, as illustrated at 62, and may swing about its axis Gl from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that represented in Fig. 3. ln the former position theweight and force of the main stream delivered from the valve 70 will be sufficient to prevent a reduction of the volume of the supply-stream.

lt will be noticed that the two valves 70 and T2 are set substantially horizontally, and in this position of course material would not flow into the load-receiver, and hence I have illustrated herein mechanism for operating these pan-valves or feeders to force the material forward on the valves and into the bucket to be loaded. In this case the valves are intended to be vibrated back and forth bysuitable driving mechanism. (Illustrated clearly in Figs. 1,2,5,G, and 7.) This driving mechanism may be of any suitable type for imparting successive force-feeding movements to the valves 70 and 72; but l prefer to make use of the devices illustrated in these drawings.

S designates a main d riving-shaft, to which is keyed a suitable band-wheel, such as 20, the shaft being journaled at its outer end in bearings in a bracket 25, projecting from the side frame "2, this shaft being solnewhat short and havingsleeved thereonaloose bevel-gear 223, to the hub 22)/ of which is keyed asecond band-wheel 2l, this sleeve also supporting a loose pulley or band-wheel Near the inner end thereof the shaft S has keyed thereto a bevel-gear 2i, which meshes with a corresponding gear 27, secured to a shaft S', supported at one end in bearings in a bracket 2',projecting laterally from the main bracket 25, and at its other end in a bracket 2G at the opposite side of the machine. (See Fig. (i.) This shaft S is not, however, carried directly by the bracket 25, but instead passes through a long sleeve 30, to the outer end of which is secured a large bevel-gear 3l, which meshes with the bevel-gear 23, the sleeve being carried directly by the bearing in bracket 25.

It will be obvious that when the main shaft S is rotated by the band-wheel O the movements of said shaft will be imparted `to the shaft S', while the sleeve SO will remain still.

When the band-wheel 2l is rotated, the gear-wheel 23 will communicate its rotation to the large bevefgear 3l and hence to the sleeve 30, which will rotate at a slower rate of speed than will the shaft S'. All of the pulleys or band-wheels mentioned will of course be controlled byasingle driving-belt.

The shaft S' and the sleeve 30 constitute in this case means for operating the force-feeding pan-valves 70 and '72 and for impart-ing to them differential feed movements. Of course the main valve by which the main stream is controlled should be operated somewhat faster and will preferablyhaveagreater range of movement than the drip valve 72, and for this Nreason the main valve is operatively connected with the shaft S in this instance by means of an eccentric and a straprod, while the drip-valve 72 is connected in a corresponding manner with the sleeve 30.

The t-wo eccentrics by means of which the movements of the driven shaft and the sleeve are transmitted to the main valve and the drip-valve, respectively, are indicated herein by and 4l, the form er being secured to the sleeve 30, while the latter is fixed on the shaft S. These two members will preferably be differential eccentrics, the former being so constructed as to impart a somewhat shorter vibratory movement to the drip-valve than the latter does to the main valve.

The connection between the valves and the eccentrics may be made in anysuitable manner by means of strap-rods, such as i5 and 46, the former of which connects the eccentric 40 with the drip-valve, while the latter joins the eccentric 4l and the main valve.

The beam mechanism which l prefer to employ will preferably be of the single-beam77 type, such as is illustrated in a general way by B, and consists in this instance of a pair of beam-arms lO and lO', supported in the usual manner upon knife-edge pivots carried by the framework and connected at their rear ends by a cross-bar, such as l2, preferably rectangular in cross-section and carrying a set of slidable weights lV of various sizes, which may be changed as desired to regulate the size of the load to be weighed.

The beam mechanism is intended to support a load-receiver, which may be substantially of the type illustrated herein at G; but this load-receiver or bucket, which in the con- IOO IIO

crasse `struction shown is of the tilting type, will not be carried directly by the framework in this instance, but by a member or members pivotally supported on the beam mechanism. In this case l have shown a pair of risers pivoted, respectively, on lthe arms 10 and 10, preferably by means of knife-edge pivots, such as are illustrated in Fig. 8. Two of these risers are shown, and they are designated, respectively, by r and r. Both may be guided at their upper ends in any suitable manner-as, for instance, by means of links 13 and 13', connected with the su pply-hopper H.

The pivot or knife-edge bearings between the beam and the risers are of novel construction and are clearly illustrated in detail in Fig. Sl. As both sets of bearings are con structed in the same manner a description of one is suliicient for both.

The bearing member (indicated in a general way by 14) may be substantially of the usual V-shaped type, and the journal mem-- ber, which is designated by 15, may be secured to the riserin anysuitable manner and will preferably have a groove therein V-shaped in cross-section, the point or working face of this groove being convex from end to end thereof to permit a slight lateral rocking or rolling of the riser on the beam-pivot.

As before stated, the tilting load-receiver or bucket is not mounted directly on the beam mechanism, but is intended to be supported by the risers just described, and in this instance these risers have bearings therein, preferably below the knife-edge bearin just referred to, Vfor the purpose of receiving in the usual manner trunnions projecting from the sides of the bucket. (See Fig. l.) This loadreceiver turns upon its trunnions to discharge its load and to regain its normal position, and hence is preferably coun terweighted, but the counterweight is not in this ease carried directly by the bucket for movement in unison therewith. lnstead,thecounterweight,which may be of the type indicated herein by 16, is pivoted on one of the risers and is connected in some suitable manner with the load-re ceiver for operating the latter. Preferably the co unterweight lo forms part of a lever 1 (3, and that part of the lever which is on the side of the pivot opposite the counterweight may be connected by a link, such as 17, with a suitable point in the bucket.

The lever 1G is intended to be held by a suitable device or latch substantially in the usual manner, and hence when so held the bucket also will be retained in its normal load-receiving position. Preferably the extreme end of the lover has a stop or detent face which coacts with a latch, mounted in this case on the saine riser as the lever ld, rlhis latch is of the ordinary type and is designated by Si?. lt has the usual holding-face or latch-face S2 and a long releasing-arm adapted to coact with a releasing device or latch tripper-sucln for example, as that shown at 88,

ln the construction illustrated herein the lateh-tripper S8 is in the form ol' a releasing face or pin carried by an interlocking segment UO, cooperative with the stream-controlling means, which means of course may embody both the valves and the power 'feed mechanism therefor. The other interlocking stop, which coacts with the stop 90, is designated by 91 and is in the nature of a long stop-lace on one side of the load-receiver, these two interlocking stops cooperating with each other in a well-known manner to prevent discharge of a load while the valves are operating and to prevent the feeding of material by the pan-valves while the load-receiver is dischargin In the present case the interlocking` stop 90 is su pported en the framework, and a rockarm 90', moving therewith, is connected to a link 92, whichin turn is operated by the usual belt-shipper 93, controlling the belt l), by which the feeding of the main stream and the drip-stream and the stopping of the feed are controlled. This belt-shipper has preferably a balance-weight 93' below the pivot of the belt-shipping lever and an actuating-weight il! on an arm 9-l, projecting Vfrom the pivot of the beltshipper, substantially at right angles to the body thereof. Another substantiallyright-angled arm Q5 may coact with the usual valve-opening actuator 515 on the beam mechanism, by which actuator the belt will be shifted onto the pulley 2O on the return of the bucket toits normal position after dis charging a load.

In addition to the devices hereinbefore dcscribed for preventing scattering of the inaterial of the stream delivered to the load-re ceiver l may employ an adjustable guard, such as g, supported just above the discharge end of the main valve and adjustable by means of a clamp-screw 9o', working in aslot 97 in a bracket 97, projecting Yfrom tbe upper part of the framework, and l may also make use of a combined guard and catch-pan connected to the loadi'eceiver. These lastmentioned devices will be supported, preferably, by a pair of links, such as 98, pivoted to rearwardly-prejecting arms 19 and 19", forming 'parts of the respective risers fr and i".

The catch-pan proper, which is designated in a general way by c, is pivotcd between its ends and near the rear end thereof to the up per ends of the links 98, while the inner end of said catelrpan is hinged directly to the bucket. This catch-pan is se shaped that normally when the bucket is in its load-receiving position said pan forms a gua-rd for preventing spattering of material falling into the bucket; but when the receiver is tilted and the catch-pan shifted the latter will pass under the discharge ends of the two valves into position to receive and hold any mate rial which in ay be dislodged accidentally from the valves while the completed load is being delivered into the discharge-hopper li'. Of

course when the bucket returns to its normal IOO IIO

classe position the V4nich-pan ivili deliver any such particles into the bucket to Vform part of the neu' load.

rEhe operation et a machine constructed in accordance vri th my present improvements as illustrated in the draivings of this application is iolhiu. lt being understood that all of the par s fue in their normal positions for making up a load, it ivill be seen that the belt i; is en th o band-Wheel it? and that through the conueciit nrom the driving-shafts S and S the valve T icing vibrated to feed the mateine receiver; thatthe guard l y the falling strealn, (see cli-pan o is in its inclined interlocking stop UO is in revtnit tiltingol the load-rece' ver to dischar; i "t load, and that the drip-valve is its soon as the major part of harged into the bucket by the main stream the bucket begins to descend, and at vthe properpoin t in its dovvnivard move- 1 we eounterv-:eieht iti becomes effective ppcr '.ll oil.` from the pull and onto the pulley 2l, whereupon the the main stream stopped and the tit) into position to control i j volume of thc dripstrcam to be U:fthe valve 7;.

bis soon as the belt. 1e connections l'rom the sleeve 213/ eve SO cause the drip-valve to be loiver rate of speed than the f pcrated and through a shorter stream of suitable size being i ely into the load-receiver. its soon as distance, a thus i'ed pos't`v (See the load comteru'eight iii to sliiit the beltfrom the pulley il and onto the 2i, ivhereupon ot course the llow -vvill be stopped. Substantially time the latch-tripper SS, which the inteil tl e belt-shipper O3, lifts the latch ment UO non' being elearof the ie loi'id-receiver tilts and the inaierial thereii is discharged into the hopper ll. Gn Vthe tilting ol the bucket the countervveight l t3' and the catch-pan c are both shifted relativeljvv to tl e. load-receiver, and said panit into -iosition to catch any at the same moves ivith nectcd with i Si, and the seg segment .l il

valve is breng material which nmv )e discharged accidentally .trom eitherot the tivo valves TO and 72. lYhiie the bucketis in its discharging' position, of con e, the interlock Ol prevents the shifting ot tue belt oi? from the loose pulley; but as soon as all ot the material passes out from the receiver the counteriveight lt" becomes ei'i'eetive o return the bucket to its normal position, whereupon the catch-pan is shifted i k to the inclined position shoivn in Fig. 2 and discharges its contents, if any, into the receiver, the latch reengages the detent end et' the lever lt, the interlock til is ivithdraivn from the interlock UO, and the actuator .7l-5 becomes ei'iective to shift the belt back onto the prille)v 2O for the making up of a new load.

Having described my invention, l claiml. in a Weighing-machine,the combination, ivith stream-supplving means, of a pair oi pan-valves hinged at their rear ends to the iranievvork for oscillation and supported onc above the other; and means for vibrating said streaiii-controllers.

2. ln a Weighing-machine,the combination, ivith stream-supplying means, oi' a pair of pan-valves hinged at the rear ends thereof to the framework Vfor oscillation,and said valves being located one above the other, and the upper valve having a depending spout. for supplying material to the loivcr valve; and means for vibrating said valve.

3. ln a weighing-machine,thc combination, ivith stream-supplying means, ot' sci iaratelvvoperative superposed main and drip valves facing in the same direction; actuating means for said valves; and a reactive guard coacting with said valves and shiitable by the stream delivered from the main valve.

-l-. ln aweighing-machine,the combination, with stream-supplying means, of separatelyoperative superposed main and drip valves facing in the same direction; actuating means for said valve; anda counterpoised swinging guard coacting with said valves and shittable by the stream delivered from the main valve. A

ln a .veighing-n'1acliine,tlie con'ibination, 'with streain-supplving means, oi' independently-operative superposed main and drippan valves facing in the same direction, actuating means ior said valves; and a counterveighted swinging guard-plate pivoted near its upper end and coacting vvith said valves and shiftable by the stream delivered from the main valve, and also shiftablebyits counter-Weight into position to reduce the stream delivered from the drip-valve.

t3. ln a Weighing-machine, the combination, ivith stream-supplying means, ot a pair ol` force -feeders governing, respectively, the main stream and the drip-stream, and one ot said force-feeders being vilnatory, and actuating means ior said force-feeders.

7. ln a iveighing-machine,the combination, withstream-supplying means, of a pair of vibratoryforce-feeders governing,respectivelv, the mainstream and the drip-stream, and actuating means ior said torce-feeders.

S. In a Weighing-machine,the combination, with stream-supplving means, ot a pair ot oscillator5v combined valve and force feeders successively operative ior delivering, respectively, the main stream andthe drip-stream, and actuating means for said torce-feeders.

ln a vveigliing-niachine,the combination, with stream-supplying means, ol a pair ot swinging torce ieeders governing, respectively, the main stream and the drip-steam, and actuating means Vior said force-feeders.

l0. ln a Weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying means, of a pair of oscillatory force-:feeding valves governing, respectively, the main stream and the dripstream, and actuating` means for successively vibrating said force-feeding valves.

ll. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying means, of a pair of swinging vibratory force-feeding panvalves governing, respectively, the main stream and the drip-stream, and actuating means for said lforce-feeding valves.

l2. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with stream-supplying means, of a pair of swinging force-feeding valves governing, respectively, the main stream and the dripstream and having their axes of oscillation remote from their working faces, and actuating means for said force-feeding valves.

13. In a weighingmachine, the combination,with stream-supplying means, of driving mechanism; a pair of eccentrics operative by the driving mechanism; and a pair of forcefeeders operative by said eccentrics and governing, respectively, the main stream and the drip-stream.

'l-i. In a weighingmachine, the combination,with stream-supplying means, of driving mechanism; a pair of separately operative eccentrics operative by said driving mechanism and having' a common axis of rotation; a pair of force-feeders; and strap-rods connecting said valves, respectively, with said eccentrics.

l5. In a weighing machine, the combination,with stream-supplying means, of driving mechanism; a pair of separatelyoperative eccentrics operative by said driving mechanism and having a common aXis of rotation; a pair of vibratory force-feeding pan-valves; and strap rods connecting said valves, respectively, with said eccentrics.

I6. In a weighing machine, the combination, with stream-supplying means, of separately-cperative superposed main and drip valves, the former having a spout projecting therefrom into the latter for supplying material to the drip-valve; actuating means for said valves; and a swinging catch-pan normally inoperative; and means for shifting said catch-pan into its operative position on the discharge of the load.

i7. In a weighing machine, the combination, with stream-supplying means, of sepalately-operative superposed main and drip valves, the former having a spout projecting therefrom into the latter for supplying material to the drip-valve; actuating means for said valves; weighing mechanism including a tilting load-receiver; and a swinging catchpan connected with the load-receiver and normally inoperative and shiftable into its operative position by the load-receiver on the discharge of a load.

18. In a weighingmachine, the combination,with stream-su pplyin g means, of streamcontrolling means; a weighing mechanism including a member shiftable for discharging the load; a latch for said shiftable member; a pair of interlocking stops operative, respectively, with the stream-controlling means and the shiftable member of the load-receiver; and a latch-tripper carried by the interlocking stop for said shiftable member of the loadreceiver.

19. In a weighingmachine, the combination, with counterweighted beam mechanism, of a tilting load-receiver on said beam mechanism, and a counterweight supported independently of the load-receiver and connected therewith for normally holding the load-receiver in a predetermined position.

20. In a weighing-machine, the combination,with counterweighted beam mechanism, of a tilting load-receiver supported on said beam mechanism, and a counterweight supported on the beam mechanism independently of the load-receiver and connected with the latter for holding the load-receiver in a predetermined position.

2l. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with framework, of counterweighted beam mechanism; a tilting load-receiver; a riser pivoted on the beam mechanism; a guide for said riser; and a counterweight supported on said riser and connected with the load-receiver for normally holding the latter in a predetermined position.

22. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with framework, of counterweighted beam mechanism; a pair of risers pivoted on the beam mechanism at opposite sides of the machine; means forguidingsaidrisers; atilting load-receiver pivotally supported by said risers; and a counterweight supported on one of said risers and connected with the load-receiver for normally holding the latter in a predetermined position.

23. In a weighing-machine, the combina-- tion, with framework, of beam mechanism; a load-receiver 5 a stop connected with the loadreceiver and movable relatively thereto; holding means for engaging said stop to hold the load-receiver in a predetermined position; and releasing means for disengaging said holding means from the stop.

24. Ina weighing-machine, the combina-- tion, with framework, of beam mechanism; a load-receiver; a stop supported independently of the load-receiver and connected with the latter and movable relatively thereto; a latch for said stop; and a latch-tripper.

25. In a weighing-machine, the combination, with framework, of beam mechanism; a load-receiver; a counterweighted stop supported independentlyof the load-receivcrand connected with the latter and movable relatively thereto; a latch for said stop; and a latch-tripper.

26. In a weighing-machine, the combination,with framework, of weighing mechanism including countervveighted beam mechanism and a member shiftable for discharging a load; a riser pivoted on the beam mechanism; a guide for said riser; a stop on the riser and IOO IIO

connected wiLh, and movable relatively to, lire shiftable member of the load-receiver; a lach for said stop; and a latch-tripper.

27. ln a weigliing-machine, the combinationm'itli framework, of Weighing mechanism including` counterweighted beam mechanism and a membershiftable for discharginga load; a riser pivoted on the beam mechanism; a guide for said riser; a stop on said riser and connected with, and movable relatively io, io the shift-able member of the load-receiver; a Ilatch supported on said riser and coacting with said stop; and a latch-tripper.

FRANCIS Il. RICHARDS.

limi esses:

F. N. CHASE, JOHN O. SEIFERT. 

